What shock you recommend

[Patrica]

Hey all, I'm after a new set of shockies as the current ones gave up the ghost, I currently have Tough Dogs 45mm adjustable since day one and the knobby things has seize and there is no point in getting the same ones again as I only have it on one setting.
I use it to drive to and from work and don't really carry heavy things only during Xmas break. I would like to tow a caravan in the future.
So any suggestion will great.
Cheers

[Bigrig]

I've jsut whacked a set of EFS 3" on and to date they are great - come with a 100K/3 year warranty (whether that's worth anything is open to debate though!!), and seem pretty well matched to the Dobinson springs .. very good on corrugation as I recently found out, no fade whatsoever, and FAR more comfortable than the OME setup I used to have on the old truck ...

[YNOT]

A bit more expensive but Koni's and Bilsteins are great shocks.

Tony

[Maxhead]

I've been running Koni's for last 10000km and they seem very comfortable on and off road. I would recommend to anyone.

Mine's empty most of the time and tow a camper trailer half a dozen times a year. no problems

[Ben-e-boy]

well You should be lookin a the type of shock not the brand. If you are touring you want a good foam cell shock as they have good heat resistance as opposed to a oil/gas which isnt as good and oil even less. you want a twin tube design so even if you dent the outer tube the piston wont be affected.
once you sor out what type of shock you need hen go for the brand

Cheers

[YNOT]

well You should be lookin a the type of shock not the brand. If you are touring you want a good foam cell shock as they have good heat resistance as opposed to a oil/gas which isnt as good and oil even less. you want a twin tube design so even if you dent the outer tube the piston wont be affected.
once you sor out what type of shock you need hen go for the brand

Cheers

Good advice. This is why it pays to discuss your needs with a suspension specialist. A good suspension specialist will take everything into account and suggest the right type for your needs.

Tony

[Patrica]

Awesome advise guys thanks for all the info, now its just dicision dicision dicision thanks again

[Mrowka]

well You should be lookin a the type of shock not the brand. If you are touring you want a good foam cell shock as they have good heat resistance as opposed to a oil/gas which isnt as good and oil even less. you want a twin tube design so even if you dent the outer tube the piston wont be affected.
once you sor out what type of shock you need hen go for the brand

Cheers

Useful information. What shok construction do you recommend for someone whose Patrol splits time between bad asphalt and off-road tracks?

There's no point asking a specialist here. Where I live, you pay your money and you take your chances.

[Mrowka]

Next question el mondo stupido: when you refer to a "twin tube shock," can this be oil damped, foam damped, or oirl/gas damped?

Koni shocks are available here, but only by special ($$) order.

[YNOT]

Twin tube can be oil, oil/foam or oil/gas. Twin tube refers to the construction of the shock body.

Tony

[Mrowka]

OK, twin tube it is.

Now, do I want an oil/gas, gas or a foam damped shock?

[YNOT]

All shock absorbers have oil in them, the gas and foam is used to pressurize the oil and stop it from aerating. Aeration occurs when the shock overheats as can happen after driving on corrugations for extended periods.
My understanding is that foam cell shocks are better than gas, in extreme cases as gas can mix with the oil if the oil is hot enough. How bad/rough are the roads and tracks that you plan to drive on and how many 100's of km's do they extend for?

Tony

[Mrowka]

Here in Ukraine, the roads are so bad that you pretty much need a 4x4 (or a Lada) if you are going anywhere but the main highways or large cities. Even some highways have potholes large enough to swallow a small pony.

This photo shopws what is technically a "city road" located on the outskirts of the capital city. Go too much further and this road gets even worse, for 100s of kilometers.

So, yes, we go through shocks here like a fat chick goes through M&Ms.

Oh yeah, the photo is sideways, not me. :P